cort1977

Evicted the Zed from the garage today,  and then washed her to remove the accumulated dust, she's overwintered there as she is soluble in Scottish winters ❄️☃️
The Spitfire then took pride of place in the garage, two new rear shock absorbers were fitted with not too much of a struggle - a block of wood and a large hammer helped things along.
Next things to do to the spitfire, are to adjust the handbrake and then see if I can jury-rig the viscous fan coupling, 'cos it's getting increasingly noisy these days.
After that, maybe some cosmetic improvements to some rough areas of paint.
I'm only five months into retirement now, so having time to do things, is still very much a novelty to me.
 

Hastings are awful in my experience.
Yeah, that's very true. Once our two main cars are insured everything else is next to nothing. 

Well you can only drive one at a time.  

I have definitely noticed this, reinsuring the Clio is the fourth car in my name.  Suddenly all the costs are reasonable again.

This, i've found, makes the single biggest different on an individual cars price.
I've found even on something with a ton of mods, if it's a 2nd or 3rd car, the price collapses, to the point 'buy more cars' almost becomes sound financial advice.
Was looking at a Discovery recently, £990 was the cheapest quote i could get anywhere (it had mods). That was on a singular 'This is my only car, i have 5 years NCB for use on this policy' quote.
However if i bought another car (Was considering a Skoda that came up for sale near me), put the NCB on that, took out a 2nd policy with no NCB mentioning i have another car with 5 yrs NCB, that £990 quote suddenly collapsed to £500. And given the Skoda was going to be around £600 to insure, it effectively meant i would have been getting to insure a 2nd car for £100 over just having the Disco on its own.

Well bugger me sideways, I've only gone and done it.
It's remarkable just how easy it is when you have the correct information to hand - this came in the form of OEM wiring diagrams for the fuse board itself.

With that, I tracked the lines and worked out which continuity checks needed doing. Was surprised to note that the fuse board connectors went in reverse order (6,5,4,3,2,1) as you view it.
It became evident that the very first continuity check was open circuit which was promising.

This meant it had to come out (again) 

With the board on the bench, it was a lot easier to repeat all the required continuity checks, and we finally had the fault pinpointed.

There was an open circuit from the 'cold' side of the fuse socket, to the first junction of the horn/heated screen circuit, namely the high power input for the heated screen relay (this then carries on to the horn side of the circuit)
Unfortunately, it's a double-layered board and I was unable to access the actual board. Luckily, I had a surplus piggyback fuse with a flylead, so I elected to add a flylead to the relay terminal. Ended up using solid core wire on the board half as it's quite a high amperage circuit.


With that all assembled, the board was re-tested and continuity was restored. The board was reconnected to the car and the horn now works!
Also, billy bonus, the HRW works and the switch illuminates, so I must have been talking bollocks about it working beforehand.

With that all confirmed to work, the interior was rebuilt (glovebox light fixed)


As an aside, I noticed the oil level gauge wasn't working any more - this was traced to the sensor plug coming off for some reason so that's an easy win.
So, I'm back to bodywork repairs for the rest of the week, hopefully without any more nasty surprises!
Cheers.

Minimal photos today, because I was incredibly pissed off with the entire day.
Firstly though, some good news arrived today:

A good used catalytic converter for the Beat - this may still need to go to the exhaust place for a replacement flanges to match the stainless link pipe.
So, on with the fault diagnosis. Reinstalled the cabin fan and headlights to aid the digging. Decided the fuse box needed to come out for a clean up, so all the connectors were marked up and disconnected

And eventually the fuse box was on the bench, given a stiff bristle brush and some contact cleaner before being blow-dried from the compressor and left on the dehumidifier to dry fully.

Yesterday, I came to the conclusion that the fuse feed box and battery positive lead were in need of changing, so more faffing occured and eventually the leads were on the floor.

Annoyingly, I had a niggly little voice in the back of my head to check this lead further, as it dawned on me that I hadn't fully tested it in isolation as the alternator and starter had still been connected to the supply. Figured it would be best due diligence to check It with all items out of the circuit, 
Connected it to the battery, and in all the imaginable combinations of test, they all came back with battery voltage, inexplicably.
This meant that everything had to get refitted, which I did not enjoy. The highlight was getting the cables back through the grommet into the cabin, made easier with a bit of steel wire and some tape;

Eventually it was all rebullt and the test carried out again...
5V.
I had a bit of a tantrum about this, but eventually found out the entire thing was my fault, mainly because I had gone for the 'Use a clean shiny big patch of metal as an earth' and it turned out to be pretty crap as an earth - testing the circuit and using a proper earthing point made all the difference and proves that we were getting battery voltage, but using the crap earth, we were getting just 5v which was a lie.
Next fuck up wasn't really my fault - the heated rear window WAS working the entire time - it transpired that a bulb had blown in the switch so I was never going to tell if it was on (EDIT: this turned out to be bollocks, see my next post). Seeing that the horn was still working, I rigged it to the battery which worked.
Checked the stalk connector again for power and it was negligible, so it's getting closer. I've now got a BX factory electrical manual and read up on the fuse box, which I reckon is the culprit (again,)
Sorry if the spelling is terrible, I'm absolutely exhausted and been doing the ol' nodding dog here which isn't helping so I'm off to bed.
Cheers

Productive few hours in the garage today, although pictures are sporadic.
Prepped the panel for welding in:

Squeeeeeze the pigeon real hard, and eventually stopped blowing holes in the metal.

And ground down.

This has now been primed and Puraflex has been added to the seams.
Decided to puty hand in the way of the hammer, because I'm an idiot.

Whilst this was ongoing, I decided to try and resolve the burning oil issue with some snake oil.
The car had been running fine when in use, but started blowing blue smoke when accelerating the engine. I'm rolling a lot of dice on gummed up piston rings.
Luckily, the internet has given a pretty glowing recommendation to this product:

I spent a few hours searching around the internet, and it seems to be good for solving oil consumption issues. Decided to try a piston soak, using the procedure recommended by Berryman.
Used two bottles, poured them into each spark plug hole, put the plugs back in hand tight and agitated the engine by rotating the crankshaft pulley back and forth every half an hour. Every hour, I took the plugs out and checked the fluid by sucking some out with a syringe.
The fluid was clear when poured in.
This was the best one a couple of hours in - you can see the carbon deposits in the bottom of the syringe.

This was one of the worst ones:

Pure black in there, there was another cylinder like this too.
I used two bottles in total (it eventually drains into the crankcase) and five hours later, all bar one of the piston crowns was dry - a quick blast of compressed air into the spark plug hole freed it up.
The remaining cylinder fluid was pulled out via the syringe, and fired into an old rag, to see how many deposits were in it. This was a 10ml sample.

Whilst this was going on, I moved onto reattaching the VIN plate. Using the original remaining drill hole for one side, I drilled out the other hole and applied zinc primer to the exposed metal.

Once dried, I applied Puraflex to the hole, as well as the rivet itself, and got that properly attached.

With that done, I started looking at the LHM system, which was still untested because of this doozy:

Luckily, these are really simple to change, just prize the clip off, and pop the pipes off.

The pipeline's were heavily perished and cracked everywhere, so this was definitely worth changing.
Onwards then, to the next part - building up the LHM tank. First off, I needed to take the filters out and give them a good clean.

Here's where I made major fuck up of the day.
Notice how similar these two cans are?

...yeah. It took me a couple of seconds to realise the cleaner wasn't just clearing loads of sludge out. Thankfully, using the right can cleaned all the traces of primer out!
The other filter was also removed:

And cleaned.

The tank is now fitted in place but I forgot to get a photo.
Tomorrow, I'll be running the engine for about 15 minutes on idle to cycle the Berryman fluid through the system before carrying out an oil change - hopefully this will be enough to stop the smokescreens when I accelerate.
I'll also look to apply primer to the Puraflex and possibly a coat of paint in the evening, then I'll look to move onto the final section requiring rust repairs.
Cheers!

Footman James did me £158 for the year on the Saab convertible yesterday.  Seemed pretty good considering I have 3 points.
46, country postcode, two other moderns insured.

It sounds like @Zelandeth has been issued a Planning Contravention Notice.
https://etplanning.co.uk/what-is-a-planning-contravention-notice-pcn/
A standard and perfectly normal, if heavy handed in this instance, procedure when an enforcement team has been notified (usually by a neighbour) of a potential breach of planning regs, and needs more information.
The Council is obliged to investigate any alleged breaches of planning regulations that it is informed about. However, it's reflective of the state of things with Councils and funding that, for this particular sort of alleged breach, a PCN is considered to be more appropriate than an officer simply swinging past the site to have a chat with the homeowner about things.
In this instance, one 30-minute site visit, a quick peek inside the garage and any outbuildings for evidence of ramps, tools and other paraphernalia assocatied with intensive vehicle maintenance and repair (i.e. to the degree where @Zelandeth could attempt to earn an income), and photographs of the vehicles in question, all would quickly allow an experienced enforcement officer to arrive at a profressional opinion that, clearly, there is no evidence of business activity.
A PCN is a very simple, quick way for the Council to push the onus more onto the alleged contravenor with regards to evidencing what use is taking place at the property, without having to pay someone to visit the site etc.
With that in mind, as I mentioned above, answer the questions on the PCN honestly, do a thorough, photographic documentary of your entire property, all outbuildings, all storage areas, to show that you do not possess the tools or equipment required to operate a vehicle repair/maintenance business from your home address.
In the referred to by @BorniteIdentity, the issue was the sheer quantity of vehicles likely exceeded what was considered to be incidental to the residential use of the dwellinghouse. Simply put, if the land around/within the dwelling and its outbuildings was being used for storing vehicles and associated paraphernalia more than it was being used as a garden/driveway, it would dance more on the line of a storage use, than residential. It's a really grey area, though, and I'm not familiar with established caselaw on the matter (I'm sure it's dealt with on a case-by-case basis anyway).

Hmm. I don't know if the City Council CAN do vehicle look ups.  Maybe they're hooked up to the 'Special Tool' but I imagine they would have to write to DVLA and pay, which they won't want to do.
It's tricky territory, and we had it with that Fiat chap on here a few years ago who had a millionty cars all in a row.  The council didn't just say "Mmmkay" and disappear. @For Fiats Sake I think it was.
I'd absolutely be engaging with the council and trying to help and reassure them that you're simply a vehicle enthusiast and they're all taxed/sorned and in your name.  There should be no conflation between the two (completely separate) issues of the planning and the boundary.
My recommendation to anyone dealing with a local authority is be polite, be transparent, do everything in writing (don't accept any calls - ask them to write to you) and be helpful.  Try to remember: this isn't personal; they are just investigating something and are on a fact finding mission.
 
 

EDIT - found the thread, and @rantingYoof's excellent appraisal.  
 

Hi there morrisoxide, yes I still have the 924. I had to take it off the road at the end of last summer to save some pennies but it’s ready to roll when I sort my finances out. Actually that’s a small fib, it needs tyres desperately and a bonnet catch return spring but that’s all. It’s still as rough and ready as ever but it’s a blast.

 

-Steve-

Wish I still had my first car (mk2 Astra 1.3).
As others have said though, get one back on the road.  Strip the gold one as a parts car, keep something as a souvenir and get the blue one running.

Hot water, fairy liquid, green scouring pad, elbow grease.

That was a fun day. I'll stick up some photos later once I've recovered.
Amazon tried to jettison its gearbox on the M40 while attempting to chase @chaseracer

That Dyane is absolutely ace in every possible way.


Anyway, yes, one gearbox to bellhousing bolt is now stuck in someone's front grille. The other was held in by mere hope. As such the gearbox was shunting back and forward against the engine and it popped out of gear a few times. 

All fixed now thankfully! The solution was to fling away the original Volvo bolts that have Allen heads and are difficult to torque without rounding out, and replace them with normal hex head bolts.
Still proud of the old heap.

Made it!

That tool is about as useful as a chocolate teapot 😅
Firstly it's worth getting a £20 code reader as said above
That code could be triggered by you unplugging the MAF sensor. The intake air temp sensor is integrated within it. 
If it's Z16XEP it should have a purge valve: 

Look around in the engine bay for that, follow any hoses coming from the inlet manifold if you can't find it.
That seems to be one of the most common things to cause a fuel trim code (lean only) on Vauxhalls in my experience. There's a diaphragm inside, you can test it by taking it off and trying to blow through and suck at both ends. Should be able to blow through one end, suck through the opposite only. Not blow and suck through both. 
(Oo'er matron etc.... )
But aside from that, do a fault code scan with a better scanner first
The fan relay code is pretty ubiquitous on them. I usually solve* it by putting tape over the spanner light 😂

Just a note to say that my dad passed away this morning. He is at peace now. I will miss him terribly.

I think fuck is the only word that fits in here 
 

More baguette inbound...

As some of you may have seen in my thread, I spent the last couple of days nipping down to Worcester and as a result REV is now parked on my trailer outside my house in the North East of Scotland. How the hell did that happen? Pull up a chair to the fire, help yourself to a dram, and I will tell you  
Over the years on AS I got to know Dez on here, then on the winter zoom meets during Covid and I have met him once at the FOD. During this time (Dez, you might want to look away here, I will tell you when it is safe to return) I found Dez to be young and enthusiastic, especially about Invercars which it became obvious is his passion, to the extent he can become a pain in the arse about them, but that is Dez (you can look back now). When Dez got the chance to buy REV, I was one of the ones who advised against it due to his physical limitations. He ignored me  and I was wrong. Whilst owning REV has done nothing much for him physically, mentally it is the best thing he could have done. It has given him something to focus on, and I would go as far as to say Dez is now probably the leading authority on these things, and a by product he has become profficient in dealing with DVLA, and he has helped me out several times over the years.
Once Dez had got REV running and completed his chip run, it became obvious REV was far from in good health and fortunately he listened to advice and the true hero of all this @red5 stepped in and offered to sort it. I met Sam today, a true gentleman, and he told me what he had done to REV and believe me it is far more than I could have done! Sam did all this inbetween teaching and having a life and whilst having to wait 5 months for carb bits etc. All that is left is the kingpin on the technical front and a few other jobs which whilst relatively simple will take a great deal of time, which understandably Sam no longer has as life has moved on.
Around Christmas time, Dez became a bit frustrated, after all he passed his driving test 2 years ago and has not driven since. In his usual enthusiastic all in manner he asked about a car he was thinking of buying. A lot of good advice was given, and frankly, a whole heap of nasty comments were made at Dez. I was surprised by some people, and several of the worst offenders have posted on AS how they sometimes struggle with their own mental health yet fealt it was perfectly acceptable to pile in on Dez. I will not name names, nor say anymore on the subject, but  some of the people involved should be ashamed of themselves. Enough of that, at least some good came out of it.
A few days later during a zoom call, Dez MAY have mentioned Invercars once or twice and in discussion agreed with the good advice given that he did not need another car, he just wanted REV back. The piss taking I think annoyed me more than Dez, I am old and realise we need to encourage youngsters into the classic car game if it is going to continue. I told Dez that when I retired at the beginning of March, if it was OK with him and Sam, I would bring it up here and finish it off, probably not to such a high standard but with the quiet roads up here, a few miles could be covered before he got it back in a hope of improving reliability.
Whilst this was being organised, my ace mechanic Duncan, one of only 2 people I trust to work on my Cobra, approached with a problem he was having with a car he has owned since 1982 not showing on DVLA despite him having a V5. I contacted Dez, he said it was because it has been archived and it should be possible to wake it up. Dunc asked if Dez would do it for him, which he readily agreed to. There then followed a long argument between Dunc and Dez over how much it would cost, with Dez refusing payment and Dunc insisting! To cut a long story short (much too late, I know) Dunc is going to sort the Invercar, Dez is going to sort his registration and I have managed to help 2 friends. I think that is worth doing!
Anyway, some more pictures from today:

You lucky sod, it's closer to you now!

Yep!

Two new Heavy duty rear shocks which are about 25mm longer than standard are fitted,along with the aforementioned helper springs!😉
Back in the day Passat estate rear springs were and upgrade too,made of thicker material. 
Not my first rodeo with these cars.

It's taken too long,cost too much,pissed me off on numerous occasions,failed on two stupid items,but finally this shitbox has passed it's test and is fully road legal for the first time since 2012.

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